WWE SmackDown aired live from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. In addition to the takeaways below, Mojo Rawley announced that Rob Gronkowski will be on SmackDown next week.
SmackDown Results (3/13)
- Bayley & Sasha Banks def. Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan def. Cesaro
- Jeff Hardy def. King Corbin
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Asuka Helped Banks & Bayley Pick Up A Win
Triple H welcomed the audience to the WWE Performance Center for the show. He asked the fans to forget about the world for a bit and let WWE put a smile on your face. Triple H joined Michael Cole on commentary.
Banks and Bayley said it doesn’t matter if there are zero fans because they are still the face of the division. Bayley demanded that Paige come down to the ring and Cole stated that she isn’t here yet because of travel issues. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross interrupted and claimed that they haven’t gotten a response from the Kabuki Warriors. They said that they wanted the Women’s Tag Team Championships and added that they are looking for a fight. Bayley asked for a referee and the match began.
Match Recap: Nikki and Alexa started the match in control and isolated Bayley in the ring. Bayley rolled out of the ring to regroup and Nikki followed her out there. Nikki leveled Banks with a Crossbody off the steel steps as SmackDown went to a break. When SmackDown returned, Alexa Bliss smacked Sasha in the face as Triple H imitated Vince McMahon.
Nikki Cross stomped on the steps to fire up a nonexistent crowd as Bliss was trapped in the corner. Cross got the tag but Banks quickly threw her to the canvas. Sasha went for Double Knees but Cross countered into a small package for a two count. Asuka attacked Alexa Bliss from behind as Bayley distracted the referee. Sasha locked in the Bank Statement for the submission victory.
Opinion: This will likely be the new normal for the next few weeks and it is going to be tough to get used to. However, it is definitely great to still have some form of WWE on TV.
Reigns Vowed To Defeat Goldberg At WrestleMania
Roman Reigns was interviewed about his match against Goldberg for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania. Reigns stated that remaining in good health has been driving him this entire year.
Michael Cole asked Reigns about critics claiming that Roman put himself in the main event and doesn’t deserve it. Roman stated that his level of commitment is higher than everyone else’s and he deserves to be in the main event of WrestleMania because he has been main-eventing in small towns every night on the road.
Reigns said he has a lot of respect for Goldberg and he is an icon in this business. Roman claimed that WWE doesn’t have time for part timers anymore. Reigns then vowed to defeat Goldberg at WrestleMania.
Opinion: The line about WWE not having time for part timers anymore was laughable since the majority of the WrestleMania card is built around them. Lesnar versus McIntyre feels like more of a WrestleMania main event than this match but it is what it is. Reigns and Lesnar already did the full timer versus part timer angle as well. On a positive note, Reigns came off so much better in this interview than he does in a typical scripted promo.
Daniel Bryan Defeated Cesaro
Daniel Bryan had another conversation with Drew Gulak backstage tonight. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted. Zayn called Gulak a nobody and claimed that Bryan was a shell of himself. Bryan got in Sami’s face but Cesaro got in the way. Cesaro will face Daniel Bryan later tonight. Drew Gulak, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Cesaro were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Cesaro unloaded a series of uppercuts to Bryan and knocked him to the canvas. Cesaro connected with a Superplex and went for the cover but Bryan kicked out at two. Cesaro locked in a Crossface in the middle of the ring but Bryan countered into a roll-up for the quick pinfall victory.
After the match, Shinsuke Nakamura hopped in the ring and attacked Bryan from behind. Drew Gulak fought Shinsuke off but Sami attacked him from behind. Nakamura and Cesaro launched Gulak into the steel steps before Bryan hit a Suicide Dive out of nowhere. Sami, Nakamura, and Cesaro then retreated.
Jeff Hardy Returned
Jeff Hardy made his return tonight and was interviewed backstage. King Corbin interrupted and a match was announced for later tonight. Elias joined commentary for the match.
Match Recap: Corbin knocked Jeff Hardy out of the ring and sent him flying into the barricade. Back in the ring, Jeff Hardy connected with a Jawbreaker and followed it up with a Clothesline. Corbin battled back and hit Deep Six for a near fall. Elias hopped on the announce table and played his guitar to distract Corbin. Jeff capitalized with a Twist of Fate and followed it up with a Swanton Bomb for the pinfall victory.
Bray Wyatt Confronted John Cena
John Cena was interviewed by Michael Cole to close the show. Cena wished everyone well at home and hopes to have the crowd back soon. John stated that multiple people have blamed him for their failures and that you can just add Bray Wyatt to the list.
Cena added that potential can be good but it can also make people lazy. John claimed that was the case with Bray and he is own worst enemy. Cena brought up some of the big losses he has and pointed out that nobody ever says he is buried because he adapts and gets his ass back in the fight.
John stated that WWE needs to invest in their future and Bray Wyatt does not represent that. Cena mentioned Rhea, Ciampa, Riddle, McIntyre, and Velveteen Dream as the future of WWE. Cena vowed to end Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania and called him the most overrated WWE superstar in existence.
Bray Wyatt interrupted and hopped in the ring. Wyatt said that Cena only cares about himself and will bury anyone along the way as long as he gets his spotlight. Bray called Cena an addict for the spotlight and brought up losing to him at WrestleMania six years ago.
Wyatt claimed that Cena broke him but The Fiend put him abck together. Bray stated that it is going to be a slaughter at WrestleMania and Cena doesn’t know it yet. Wyatt told Cena to let him in to close the show.
Opinion: Wyatt and Cena had an excellent promo to close this week’s show. The lack of a crowd is glaring but WWE is making the best of a tough situation. I thought Triple H was hilarious the entire show as well. WWE filled some time by airing the entire SmackDown Tag Team Elimination Chamber match during the broadcast and I’m expecting more of that on RAW. Obviously not having a crowd sucks but I’ll take it over no wrestling at all.
